Citybus Route 8

Route 8 on Hong Kong Island is an express bus service operated by Citybus, between Exhibition Centre station and Heng Fa Chuen.

8
An Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC on Route 8 entering Wan Chai North temporary terminus
Overview
OperatorCitybus
VehicleAlexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC
Route
StartHeng Fa Chuen
ViaIsland Eastern Corridor
EndExhibition Centre station
Length14 km
Other routesCitybus Route N8
CompetitionMTR Island line
Service
Level05:30-00:00
Alt. level06:15-00:45
Frequency11–20 mins.
Journey time48 mins.

History

Route 8 was started by China Motor Bus on 12 November 1949, between Wan Chai Ferry (then next to Stuart Road and Shau Kei Wan via King's Road and Shau Kei Wan Road, in response to the inauguration of a new ferry route between Wan Chai and Jordan Road Ferry Pier by HYF, and also with the intention of augment the then congesting Route 2. The route became the first route CMB started after the Second World War.

On 1 August 1954 CMB started a new route with no number between Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan to serve the new bungalow development area there. At first the new route only serviced during mornings and from noon to evening, but in December service expanded to whole day long. On 1 June 1955 it merged with the main Route 8, with the terminus designated at the intersection between today's Chai Wan Road and Tai Tam Road (at that time, both roads were called Island Road). Still, the terminus was far away from development in Chai Wan, so a new route 8A was started in 1959 as a solution. 8A merged with 8 on 8 February 1961 after completion of widening works on Chai Wan Road. Consequently, the terminus was moved to the resite estates.

On 1 July 1972 the route was classified as an urban slope route, with a price higher than flat-road routes. On the same day service was further extended to San Ha Street, Chai Wan, to service the new Chai Wan Estate. At that time patronage on the route was high and it was usual to have a full bus. Starting from mid-1975, the route was completely serviced by double-deckers. On 22 June 1985 the eastern terminus was moved again to Chai Wan (East) Bus Terminus at Sheung On Street, and again on 1 February 1990 to Siu Sai Wan to serve the new Siu Sai Wan Estate. Partial air-conditioned service started on 27 February 1995, amongst the first batch of CMB routes to have done so.

Route 8 was handed over to NWFB on 1 September 1998 following the end of CMB franchise on Hong Kong Island bus services. Later the Siu Sai Wan terminus was changed to Island Resort.

Patronage on the route started to suffer from slow speed after the establishment of express routes 8X in 1996 and later 8P in 1998. Due to the strong request from local residents, the route was designated an express route on 11 February 2006 with the terminus at Heng Fa Chuen instead of Siu Sai Wan, and the route was changed to Island Eastern Corridor instead of King's Road. [1][2]

In 2015, route have been extended to Wan Chai North due to the demolition of the Wan Chai Ferry Pier bus terminus for the construction of Sha Tin to Central Link expansion project of Exhibition Centre station until 2022.

Route

Current Route

The route length for both directions is 13.1 km in a time of 44 minutes.[2][3]

Route prior to express designation

Route 8 was a local service before 11 February 2006, which had a distance of 12.5 km for both directions in 66 minutes time, via:[4]

Associated night services
  • N8, between Exhibition Centre station and Heng Fa Chuen
  • N8X, between Kennedy Town and Siu Sai Wan (Island Resort)

References
  1. Stanley Yung (December 2004). The Development of Hong Kong Island Bus Routes in 20th century. Ming Hing. ISBN 962-8414-66-6.
  2. Eric Lo. "NWFB Route 8". 681 Bus Terminal. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  3. "Information for route 8". NWFB website. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  4. Eric Lo. "NWFB Route 8 (old route)". 681 Bus Terminal. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
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